Issuu

Real Estate Reinvented

Voters registration is open until Oct. 5 for general election ► PAGE 9

770.605.7545 | Together, Opening Doors

September 24, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

Dunwoody Glen residents oppose pickleball facility By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Several Dunwoody Glen residents showed up to the Dunwoody City Council’s Sept. 14 meeting to oppose the installation of four new pickleball courts at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta on Tilly Mill Road. The community center wants to add a 10,500-square-foot indoor pickleball facility to its campus. Residents living on Dunwoody Glen, which branches off Tilly Mill Road, said the new courts will add to noise issues caused by the center’s existing 12 outdoor pickleball courts. Community center officials said already-in-place acoustic fencing will be expanded to surround the new building, and a public-announcement system will not be used for regular play. The plans call for the new building to have “garage-style” doors that can be opened during pleasant weather, which further concerns residents. They said current sound mitigation efforts are not effective and that a required 40-foot natural buffer between the center and their neighborhood is not well maintained.

See PICKLEBALL, Page 8

JIM BASS/APPEN MEDIA

Interim Superintendent Norman Sauce speaks at a DeKalb County School District meeting on Sept. 14.

School board names Sauce sole finalist in split vote By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — In a 4-3 vote on Sept. 14, Norman Sauce was approved as the sole finalist for the DeKalb County Schools’ permanent superintendent after serving as interim for 10 months. “It is the honor of a lifetime to potentially be able to serve even longer in this seat,” Sauce said after the vote. “There is nowhere else I would rather serve, there is nothing else I’d rather be doing, and there is no community I’d rather be doing it for than right here where I’m sitting with this governance team.” Three board members, Tiffany

Hogan, Diijon DaCosta and vice chair Awet Eyasu opposed. All three shared kind words about Sauce’s performance and leadership, but voted against him because they wanted to do a formal search for the next superintendent. Sauce became acting superintendent on Oct. 10. 2025 after former superintendent Devon Horton was federally indicted on charges related to his time at Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Illinois. Following his interim appointment, he has served as the face of the district during several ongoing initiatives, including the Student Assignment Project, a redistricting effort meant to make the district financially efficient. The district currently has 20,000

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unused classroom seats districtwide. DeKalb County School District has seen nine different superintendents since 2010. Sauce’s interim contract is for one year and expires in November. While the meeting marked the first public discussion of making him the new superintendent, the topic has been discussed several times in executive session, according to school board attorney Winston Denmark. The board’s approval for Sauce to become permanent superintendent initially sat on the consent agenda, but board member Tiffany Hogan pulled it at the beginning of the meeting.

See SAUCE, Page 8

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ANSLEYRE.COM | 404.480.HOME | 3035 PEACHTREE ROAD, SUITE 202, ATLANTA, GA 30305 Equal housing opportunity. If you have an |existing brokerage relationship, is not202, intended as a solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. ANSLEYRE.COM | 404.480.HOME 3035 PEACHTREE ROAD, this SUITE ATLANTA, GA 30305 Equal housing opportunity. If you have an existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted.

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2 | September 24, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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ATLANTA NEWS FIRST/PROVIDED

The MARTA bus crash happened on North Shallowford Road.

MARTA bus driver appeared to fall asleep before DeKalb crash By ATLANTA NEWS FIRST STAFF ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Newly released video shows a MARTA bus driver appearing to fall asleep at the wheel before the bus left the road and crashed into several trees in DeKalb County. The crash happened Sept. 7 on North Shallowford Road. Three people on the bus were injured, including the driver. The video shows the driver taking his hands off the wheel and starting to doze off. The driver appears to wake up only after the bus crosses a curb, goes down

an embankment and crashes into at least one tree. A tow truck used a cable attached to the bus’s axle to pull the vehicle from the ditch. “As always, the safety of our riders and employees is our highest priority,” the transit agency said in a statement. According to the crash report, the driver had severe lacerations to his face and left arm, as well as a possibly broken leg and pinkie. A passenger sitting behind him complained of back and hip pain, while another reported knee pain. The driver told officials he didn’t

remember what happened. By the time he came to, the bus was in the embankment. The vehicle hit a tree, which split over a fence and fell on top of five empty vehicles. The report said the driver would be cited with distracted driving and failure to maintain his lane. Atlanta News First has reached out to the Dunwoody Police Department to learn whether the driver is facing any charges. Appen Media Group partner Atlanta News First provided this story.

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 24, 2026 | 3

STORE CLOSING

Final Weeks!

Going Out Of Business

60-75% OFF Entire Store!

Over 1,000 Rugs in Stock! All Sizes and Colors!

A few examples of our Going Out of Business prices: 13x20 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $9,850 now $1,250 11x16 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $7,500 now $1,050 8.5x11.5 antique heriz – $11,500 now $2,500 8x10 power loom – $1,720 now $290 6x9 woven 100% wool – $950 now $175 3x5 antique – $1,200 now $175

Store Closing Means Unbeatable Savings.

Thousand plus rugs are available in all sizes, colors, and styles new and antiques from all over the world with unbelievable prices. This is your opportunity to purchase premium rugs at some of the lowest prices we’ve ever offered. These savings are only available while inventory lasts, so don’t wait to find the perfect rug for your home.

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION Store Hours:

Monday - Saturday 10:30 am - 7 pm | Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm 11266 State Bridge Rd, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 678-404-7555 * All sizes are approximate. | License #15200

COMMUNITY

4 | September 24, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PET OF THE WEEK

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Enjoy the Magic of Reading! FriendsOfDunwoodyLibrary.com

YANNIE MARIN/PROVIDED

Sutton (ID 61334881) is a shy, sensitive beauty who craves affection and a connection with people. At the shelter, she quietly went to sit next to a volunteer on a bench and gave them gentle face licks during her photo shoot. She did the same with a male volunteer. Once she got comfortable with everyone, she burst into very fast zoomies and had a blast. She looked so pleased with herself that all the volunteers smiled and laughed at her joy. Sutton is less than 2 years old, weighs 60 pounds and is absolutely stunning with her foxy ears, one blue eye, one brown eye and beautiful brindle striping. She’s a sweet and precious dog who just wants to be loved. Got love? Expand your family by four furry little feet. Meet Sutton and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spaying or neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. All you have to do is provide the love and security that every shelter animal deserves. If you would like more information about Sutton or if you have questions

about adopting, fostering or volunteering, please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices. com or call 404-294-2165. All potential adopters will be screened to ensure Sutton goes to a good home. Come visit Sutton and hundreds of other adoptable pets at DeKalb County Animal Services today — no appointment needed. Our address is 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, GA 30340. You can also email adoption@ dekalbanimalservices.com or call 404-294-2165 for more information. We look forward to helping you find your new best friend. If you can’t adopt, please consider fostering temporarily or taking one of our pups for a fun day out with our Dog for the Day program. This program is a great way to borrow a canine companion for a hike, a trip to the park or a lazy day at home. Email foster@ dekalbanimalservices.com for more information about Dog for the Day. Your love and kindness can make all the difference.

ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content. Phone, web, address, coupons, etc. Assume nothing Reply back that ad is approved once ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY.

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 24, 2026 | 5

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 24, 2026 | 11

Coming home after a hospital stay The equipment plan that keeps your loved one safe (and you sane)

Brought to you by – Mobility Plus Alpharetta

470.545.1827 www.mobilityplus.com/alpharettaGA

A hospital discharge date can arrive with surprisingly little notice. One day the care team is talking about “a few more days,” and the next, you’re told your parent or spouse can go home tomorrow — and the house isn’t ready. With the right plan — and the right provider — most families can have a home fully ready in the days between “discharge is happening” and “discharge day.” Before discharge day: What needs to happen Hospital discharge planners and case managers are focused on medical readiness — medication, follow-up appointments, home health referrals. The physical readiness of the home is often left to the family. The first few weeks home: Priority checklist The first two to three weeks after discharge are typically the highest-risk period for a fall or a re-hospitalization. A few things matter most during this window: • Entryway: A safe way to get in and out of the house, whether that’s a threshold ramp, a portable ramp for a few steps or a more substantial ramp system or vertical platform lift at the garage steps. • Bedroom: A safe, appropriately positioned sleeping setup. Whether that’s a fully electric hospital bed with adjustable height, head and foot elevation, or simply repositioning furniture, the goal is a bed that supports safe, independent (or assisted) transfers in and out. Additionally, an unobstructed and well-lit path to the bathroom is vital! • Bathroom: This is where properly anchored grab bars in the water closet and shower and a shower chair and bedside commode by the bed for emergencies really matter! Mitigating fall risk and avoiding hospital readmission are the goals! • Transfer Strategy: A transfer plan for anyone who needs hands-on help moving from bed to chair or chair to toilet is a must. A sit-to-stand lift or a full Hoyer-style patient lift protects both the patient and the caregiver’s back. Why one provider changes the math for family caregivers Working with one provider who can

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assess, sell, rent, install, and service the full range of equipment — hospital beds, transfer lifts, bathroom safety items, ramps, stairlifts, and mobility devices — collapses that into a single relationship. One visit can identify everything the home needs. One delivery schedule can be coordinated around the discharge date. One phone number handle question afterward, whether it’s a service call on a stairlift or a question about upgrading a rental to a purchase. Renting to bridge the gap Not everything can be installed or delivered instantly. A custom, curved stairlift may take several weeks to build and install. A specific power chair model may be on back order. In the meantime, a rental can cover the immediate need without forcing a rushed, permanent decision. Mobility Plus Alpharetta was built around exactly that model. We sell, service, and rent hospital beds, patient transfer lifts (including sit-to-stand and full Hoyer-style lifts), bedside commodes, shower chairs, grab bars, rollators, stairlifts, wheelchair ramps, vertical platform lifts, and lightweight, folding power wheelchairs — all from one team. We can schedule a home assessment before discharge day, help you prioritize what matters most, coordinate rental equipment to bridge any gaps, and manage the entire process from a single point of contact — so your family can focus on your loved one, not on managing five different vendors. If a discharge date is on the horizon, reach out to Mobility Plus Alpharetta to schedule an assessment and get a plan in place before the day arrives.

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12 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

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2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 13

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patient-centered care remains accessible and affordable. As an independent, physician-led practice, we are uniquely positioned to adapt quickly, innovate meaningfully, and make decisions with our patients and communities at the center. This model allows us to remain focused on what matters most: delivering exceptional cancer care with compassion, accessibility, and a personal connection—today and for generations to come.” PiedmontCancerInstitute.com

14 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

Plus Alpharetta wins Best I’m so grateful Mobility Mobility Store in North Atlanta Brought to you by – Family Solutions Counseling

Kathleen Shack, owner of Family Solutions Counseling, is honored and humbled to be recognized again as "Best Counseling Services in North Atlanta". Thank you for your votes! I am deeply grateful to my clients for the trust they put in me to help them with their family relationships. For more than 20 years I've been privileged to see clients in my Alpharetta office and across Georgia via telehealth. My true passion is couples — building a foundation as newlyweds, weathering a hard season as a family, or facing divorce in the healthiest way possible for you and your children. I founded Family Solutions Counseling in 2007 on a simple belief: minimize negativity and find solutions that work for you and your family. My goal is to help you find connection, respect, and understanding with the people you love. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Gottman Couples Therapist, Certified Discernment Counselor, and contributing author to the Amazon best seller "Divorce

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Amicably: Your Roadmap to Resolution." I'm grateful for this community and the chance to do work I love. If you or someone you care about could use support, I'd love to hear from you. -Kathleen@mftga.com, www.MFTGA. com

Mobility Plus Alpharetta is humbled to win the Best Mobility Store in the Best of North Atlanta competition this year! This family-owned small business, owned by Scott and Mary Block of Alpharetta offers a customerfocused experience for those needing powered or manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, stairlifts, lift recliners, walkers, portable and modular ramp systems or home health items. Mary, a former Fulton County teacher, was led to working with seniors after caring for her father. She quickly realized how difficult it was to find informational resources, products and support services. When seeking a professional change, she wanted to address some of the deficits that she had previously encountered by offering as many products as possible under one roof, and by serving as a community educational resource.

The Blocks partner with local experts like move managers, senior living placement specialists, and occupational therapists to be as informed as possible about the variety of needs that their customers have. They host lunch and learns in their 3500 sq. ft. Space on a variety of topics once a quarter. “No one that comes in for a wheelchair, stairlift, or ramp, needs just that one item. Our customers are seniors, children supporting aging parents, or those living with chronic degenerative diseases. There are always other needs besides a product purchase” says Mary. They look forward to serving the North Atlanta community for many years to come and are so grateful for your votes! Mobility Plus Alpharetta 4020 Nine McFarland Drive Alpharetta, GA 30004 470-545-1827 Mon-Fri. 10:00am-5:00pm Sat. 9:001:00pm www.mobilityplus.com/alpharettaGA

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“Minimize the Negativity and Find Solutions” 3534 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta, Ga 30005 678-995-5638 Kathleen@MFTGA.com Monday-Friday 9am-5pm by appointment • Over 20 years of experience • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist • Certified Gottman Therapist • Certified Discernment Counselor

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16 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Der

Honored to be Voted Again in 2026! Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist WINNER 2017

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bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 17

rmatology • Vein Care • Cosmetic Services

Insist on the BEST Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care. He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables. Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 24 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

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Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

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18 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

Premier Dermatology – Providing Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time. Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs surgery of Atlanta for its ninth year in a row of being voted Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist of North Atlanta! Since opening in 2017, Premier Dermatology has quickly become the go-to dermatology practice for Mohs surgery and comprehensive dermatologic care. As in years past, I decided to sit down with Dr. Brent Taylor to get his take on his success and to learn a bit more about him. Alyssa: Hey you two! Thanks for meeting with me again. Winning the Best Dermatologist and Best Vein specialist for nine years in a row means you must be doing something right! To what do you contribute your continued success? Dr. Taylor: Thank you! Well, I believe that my patients understand our sincerity and our dedication to their healthcare. Kathryn and I and our amazing team all honestly care about our patients and their well-being. I hope that that sincerity comes through during our interactions. We always strive to give our patients our complete attention and to learn more about an individual as a person as well as a patient. There are plenty of times when a patient brings something to our attention or when a case compels us to do additional research. Kathryn and I are constantly collaborating and advocating on our patients’ behalf. I believe that comes through. Kathryn: I agree with everything that Dr. Taylor said, our team really is wonderful. And we have received a lot of compliments that the practice has a personal and “boutique” feel, even as we deliver care that is scientific and academic. Alyssa: Do you have a patient care moment or a diagnosis of which you are exceptionally proud? Dr. Taylor: Well it is always our goal to deliver outstanding dermatologic care. Regarding diagnoses that I’m proud of, the first instances that come to mind involve catching a disease that is technically outside my specialty. For example, a patient looked a bit yellow, and I ordered a liver function test and caught acute liver failure. I helped another patient discover that one of his ureters had been accidentally cut during a surgery at the hospital. Within my own specialty I’m often most proud of how simply being thorough can be critical to a patient’s care. By being thorough, I have caught melanomas on the scalp and bottom of the feet of patients who were sometimes surprised I asked them to take out a

PROVIDED

hair tie or take their socks off. Likewise, photography helps us monitor moles for change, and just last month we caught a melanoma early because a slight change from a previous photo prompted an early biopsy. Alyssa: Is there a funny medical fact that you have learned? Dr. Taylor: Actually I have a good one! An ENT professor in medical school told us that as men age they lose the ability to hear higher pitch sounds, and, as women age, their voices increase in pitch. Thus, men naturally lose the ability to hear women with time. So the next time your wife accuses you of ignoring her: blame biology, not the football game! Alyssa: If you could tell your 16 year old self something, what would it be? Brent: To not put too much stock in timelines. I was raised very traditionally, and I thought that I was going to meet my wife in college, get married right after we graduated then start a family a few years later, and it made me worried when I hadn’t met the right person by the time that I expected. My advice to the teenage me would be to just pour yourself into positive and worthwhile

activities and that the result would be becoming who you are supposed to and meeting who you are supposed to all in its own time. Kathryn: Stop stressing. You’ll make it happen. I was so focused on my future, worrying about not achieving my goals, and how I was going to put myself through school that I didn’t stop to enjoy being 16. In hindsight, I realize that having a bit more faith would have gotten me to the same endpoint without all of the pressure I put on myself. Alyssa: Do you have a pet peeve of which patients or staff are guilty? Dr. Taylor: I really don’t get frustrated easily. I understand that everyone has a life and everyone’s lives have struggles about which we often know little. If someone is being rude, I usually chalk it up to unseen struggles. That being said, I do wish that certain patients would realize what a marvel Mohs surgery really is. My primary pet peeve is patients mistreating my coworkers. Sometimes, patients get frustrated waiting on their tissue to process during a day of Mohs surgery. And they sometimes take it out on my medical assistants, who are wonderful and caring and

are in healthcare for the right reasons. There is a comedian who has a bit on youtube called “everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy.” He talks about how upset people get on airplanes when just a few hundred years ago a trip across the country was like the videogame Oregon Trail – the journey took months, and half of the wagon party died of cholera on the way. Like air travel, skin cancer treatment nowadays is miraculous. Prior to Mohs surgery, far more skin cancers routinely caused disfigurement and even death. Now, Mohs surgery offers a cure rate of 99% for most skin cancers, and the aesthetic results are often outstanding. Modern skin cancer care truly is fantastic. Unfortunately, the same day shipping world in which we live has made people expect immediate results, and they sometimes take out their frustrations on my coworkers. The world can always use a little more kindness, patience and grace. Thank you to Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek PA-C for sharing a little more about themselves and congratulations again for winning both Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist in North Atlanta for 2026!

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 19

A place to gather, discover, and celebrate Brought to you by – Chattahoochee Nature Center Being recognized in this year’s Best of North Atlanta is especially meaningful for Chattahoochee Nature Center as we celebrate 50 years along the Chattahoochee River. For five decades, this has been a place where people come together — to explore trails, encounter native wildlife, learn something new, and spend time with the people who matter to them. Today, that same spirit of discovery and connection is shaping the next chapter of several gathering spaces across our 127-acre property. Recent renovations to Kingfisher Hall, the Meadow Learning Center, and River Welcome Center are creating refreshed spaces for celebrations, meetings, and other gatherings, all within the landscape of the Chattahoochee River watershed. Each space offers a different way to experience the Nature Center. Step outside and the setting becomes part of the gathering: native plants changing with the season, wildlife moving through nearby habitats, and the River just beyond the trails. It’s a setting that can make a meeting feel a little less ordinary and a celebration feel distinctly connected to this place. The renovations are part of a larger moment for Chattahoochee Nature Center. As we mark our 50th anniversary, we’re celebrating the generations of visitors, families, students, volunteers, members, and community partners who have made this place what it is — while continuing to grow for the years ahead. We’re grateful to the North Atlanta community for recognizing Chattahoochee Nature Center in this year’s Best of North Atlanta. Whether you come for an afternoon on the trails, a program along the River, or a gathering with colleagues, family, or friends, there’s always something new here to discover. Fifty years of roots — and still growing.

PROVIDED

THANK YOU for voting for us 2026

2026

Best Wedding Venue Winner

2026

Best Of North Atlanta

Presented By

Best Summer Camp First Runner-Up

Best Group/Corporate Activity First Runner-Up

Chattahoochee Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt organization

9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | chattnaturecenter.org | (770) 992-2055

20 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

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We focus on personal, compassionate care Brought to you by - Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta provides individualized and compassionate care while also ensuring exceptional medical and surgical care. Founded by husband-and-wife team, Dr. Ingrid Reyes and Dr. John Reyes, have developed a team of physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants dedicated to exceptional patient care. The physicians of Modern OB-GYN— Dr. John Reyes, Dr. Ingrid

Reyes, Dr. Natu Mmbaga, Dr. Zin Alonso, Dr. Miranda Long, Dr. Shelley Zippay, Dr. Whitney Cook, Dr. Nicole Habibe and Dr. Shae Boguslawski—continue to increase the value of expert medical care while maintaining the focus on quality patient relationships. The role of the OB-GYN physician throughout a woman’s lifespan is immeasurable. Our physicians are devoted to establishing and building strong relationships with our patients. Our practice focuses on ensuring that every patient feels valued, appreciated, listened to, and cared for at every visit,

every time. Our patients can trust that they will receive exceptional, insightful medical care, but just as importantly, are valued as individuals. As leaders in our community for minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery, the physicians of Modern OB-GYN provide women with safe and effective options for gynecologic concerns. While able to provide the most up-to-date, robotic surgeries, our physicians are also able to address gynecologic conditions with medical management or nonsurgical approaches. As obstetricians, Modern OB-GYN recognizes the

unique aspects of every pregnancy and works with the patient to address their goals and to provide healthy outcomes for moms and babies. Our team recognizes that personalized, attentive care is incredibly important to ensure a positive experience throughout a pregnancy. Proudly serving metro Atlanta for over 15 years, Modern OB/GYN has six locations in Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Cumming, Sugar Hill and Sandy Springs (opening September 2026). We are proud to offer personal, compassionate care to the women of our community.

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 21

22 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

PROVIDED

10 years of excellence, helping you thrive Brought to you by – Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs For the tenth year in a row, we extend our sincere thanks for honoring us with the distinction of Best Home Care for Seniors - a milestone that reflects both our unwavering commitment to exceptional care and the deep trust our clients, their families and our community place in us. This comes at a time when aging in place has become the defining preference of older adults. Today’s seniors overwhelmingly want to remain in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by familiar routines, meaningful possessions, friendships and the independence they value. Latest surveys show that 88% of adults 65+ say they want to remain in their home for the rest of their lives. Even

more striking, 95% of adults 55+ say aging in place is a deeply important personal goal. Over fourteen years ago Hilary and Greg Eldridge had a different vison of in-home care, not as a one-size-fits-all service, but as heart-centered support that honors each client’s evolving needs. At Home Helpers we believe that home is not just where seniors want to be - it’s where they thrive. We offer inhome care designed to help you or your older loved one at every stage of aging. Whether someone is active and independent, managing chronic conditions, or navigating memory changes, a well matched and heart-centered caregiver provides skilled in home care that adapts to meet them exactly where they are. With daily routines unique to your needs, in-home care doesn’t replace indepen-

dence; it protects it. Caregivers step in where needed, offering support that empowers seniors rather than limiting them. Equally important is the emotional well being home that in-home care nurtures. Older loved ones stay connected to their pets, neighbors, favorite chair, garden, or morning ritual - meaningful anchors that give life continuity. Caregivers provide companionship that combats isolation, offering conversation, encouragement, and genuine human connection. This emotional support is one of the strongest predictors of thriving in later life and reflects the importance of comfort and familiar surroundings. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans now provide care to an older adult, often balancing work, family and medical needs. At Home Helpers we become partners with

families, easing stress and providing the peace of mind they need, and the sense of independence their loved one seeks. Whether home is a private house, assisted living community, apartment, or recuperating in a health facility, we’re here to help. Our skilled caregivers can assist with all personal needs, help around the house, support recovery from an injury or surgery, or upon a return home from a rehabilitation stay or stroke. Along with specialized Alzheimer’s, Dementia or Parkinson’s care, we now have Nursing Services as an added support for families. From four hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care, we can support your care needs. For a free consultation call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 6810323.

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 23

Thank You From Home Helpers Best Home Care for Seniors Exceptional Care Customized For You

2021-2026 WINNER

2017-2026 WINNER

Best Of Perimeter

Best Of North Atlanta

Dunwoody • Sandy Springs Brookhaven

Presented By

6th Straight 10th Straight Year Year At Home Helpers, our focus every day is matching the right caregiver with each of our clients. We guarantee a good match. Finding the right caregiver is much more than just seeking a professional with great skills. It’s about finding a caregiver with the heart and spirit to make a difference in someone’s life.

Serving Communities North of Atlanta www.HomeHelpersHomeCare.com/Alpharetta

For a free consultation, please call 770-681-0323. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Greg and Hilary Eldridge,

Owners – Home Helpers of North Atlanta Certified Senior Advisors(CSA)®

24 | September 24, 2026 | bestofnorthatlanta.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

Designed for the Way You Live Brought to you by – Kat Nelson Designs Inc. No two families live the same way, so Kat Nelson believes no two homes should look the same either. For Kat, thoughtful interior design begins long before fabrics are selected or furniture is placed. It starts with getting to know the people who will actually live in the space—their style, favorite colors, daily routines, activities, needs, and even the small preferences they may have never considered important to a design. “We do a lot of homework upfront,” says Kat. “I want to understand not only what my clients want their home to look like, but how they want to live in it.” That philosophy has become a defining part of Kat Nelson Designs. Rather than pushing a particular aesthetic or signature “look,” Kat approaches each project with a fresh perspective, allowing the client’s personality and lifestyle to guide the design. “It’s not about what I personally like—it’s about what will make you

happy for years to come,” Kat says. “You are the one living in the space, so I want to do whatever is needed to make it yours and exactly what you want. Of course, I may encourage you to color outside the lines a little, but at the end of the day, the client has the final say.” The result is a portfolio in which no two projects feel the same. From the beach to the mountains, traditional to modern, masculine to feminine, each home tells a different story because each is designed around the people who live there. Kat’s own design perspective has been shaped heavily by years of world

travel and experiencing different cultures, lifestyles, architecture, materials, and ways of living. That broad range of inspiration allows her to see possibilities beyond a single design style and bring unexpected ideas into each project. But beautiful design, Kat believes, is only successful when it functions just as beautifully. The goal is not simply for a space to photograph beautifully. It should make everyday life easier, more comfortable and more enjoyable. It should anticipate the way a client moves through a room, where they

need storage, how they entertain and what they want to see and feel when they walk through the door. After more than two decades of creating homes for clients with vastly different tastes and lifestyles, Kat’s philosophy remains remarkably simple: listen first, design thoughtfully and make it personal. Because the best-designed home should never feel like a designer came in and imposed a look. It should feel like you—only better than you ever imagined it could. www.katnelsondesigns.com

2026 BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA • Sponsored Section

10 Years in a Row! Thank You For Voting For Us.

bestofnorthatlanta.com | September 24, 2026 | 25

2017-2026 WINNER

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

770.751.8168 kat@katnelsondesigns.com

katnelsondesigns.com Let’s be social:

“Our projects include new construction, major renovations and interior design. Establishing a professional team of resources and relationships with contractors and vendors always ensures the best results. Kat’s strength is her ability to interpret her client’s vision and discern their needs to create beautiful homes with approachable and liveable interiors.” – Kat

Puzzles

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Connect-It

Connect-It

Dunwoody Crier...........................September 24, 2026 | 26

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Crossword

Across

1 Figure out 6 Ice cover 11 Bawl 14 Bay window 15 Dog-___ 16 Hasten 17 Falling stock prices, at times 19 Belief 20 Sphere 21 Pick up the tab 22 Evita role 23 ___ gin ﬁzz 25 Soft leather 28 Boy 31 Cockpit reading (Abbr.) 32 Honey maker 33 Self-image 34 Walk through wet snow 37 Wedding rings 40 Harbor boats 42 G.I. entertainers 43 Stir up 44 18-wheelers 46 ___ cotta 49 Altdorf is its capital 50 Broke bread 51 Nurse a drink 52 Asian holiday 53 Medical image 57 1961 space chimp 59 ___ Baba 60 Heart valves 62 French possessive 65 Apart (Preﬁx) 66 Certain sweaters

17 20 23 29

50 54

55 60

4 39

56 61

62 67

Creators

64 68

8 Mountain nymph 9 Brawl 10 Six-pointers, for short 11 Back down from a ﬁght 12 Hindu sage 13 Red Sea land 18 Coral reef 24 ___ Tunas, Cuba 26 Abate 27 Scorch 28 Permits 29 Chills and fever 30 Zealots 35 Compass pt. 36 Roughhousing

9/10/26 Kakuro PuzzleJu How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 1. first Pooh creator. Nervous. Tempest. the letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues Kakuro, alsoLittle known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, a crossword grid. The rules are easy 2. Resting place. English race place. Lulu for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’s the catch! The clues are creator. not in order - so the first clue in Line solved 1 mayin(or may not) style actually To the solve the Sudoku row, column and above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal li be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Got it? Good luck! boxformust contain to of 9. the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in an 3. Not crazy. Addy Capp creator. Former spouses. 4. School assignment. Frost. Popeye creator.

1 See 11 Across 2 Creme cookie 3 Yarn spinner 4 Action words 5 Stately tree 6 Uncover through investigation 7 Gardening tool

Down

1. Pooh creator. Nervous. Tempest. 2. Resting place. English race place. Little Lulu creator. 3. Not crazy. Addy Capp creator. Former spouses. 4. School assignment. Frost. Popeye creator. 5. Dracula creator. Burden of proof. Ready to pick. 6. Large sword. Out for the night. Garfield creator. 7. Sherlock Holmes creator. Ballet attire. Everglades wader. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Sudoku7 58

69 Rodent 70 On the briny 71 Eagle’s home 72 Sharp curve 73 Microscopic 74 Feather

CREATORS

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

PuzzleJunction.com

38 Calamitous 39 Buttonhole, e.g. 41 Grabs a chair 45 Dry, as wine 47 Wash cycle 48 G.I.’s address 53 Inner circle 54 Assumed name 55 Critical 56 Hospital ﬁgure 58 Girder material 61 British gun 63 Beige 64 Remove cream 66 Make lace 67 40 winks 68 Behold

65. Dracula creator. Burden of proof. Ready to pick. 6. Large sword. Out for the night. Garfield creator. 97. Sherlock Holmes creator. 3 7 Ballet attire. 1 Everglades 5 wader. 3 4 5 1 3 8 6 9 7 5 1 2 5 4 3 2 4 How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 7 1 The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

See puzzle solutions on Page 28

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Solution

Is Your Company Hiring? Solution

6 9 5 7 4 1 3 2 8

1 2 7 3 6 8 9 4 5

3 4 8 2 5 9 6 1 7

5 6 1 9 3 2 7 8 4

4 3 9 5 8 7 2 6 1

8 7 2 6 1 4 5 3 9

7 8 6 1 9 3 4 5 2

2 1 3 4 7 5 8 9 6

9 5 4 8 2 6 1 7 3

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 24, 2026 | 27

Our trip down the Danube – river of dreams My wife, Christina, and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on one of those riverboat tours floating down the Danube. We started in the Czech Republic, in Prague. But before the boat, RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus we celebrated with a ray@appenmedia.com vow renewal at our church, Alpharetta Presbyterian — a most wonderful openhearted church with broad welcoming shoulders. It was a fitting celebration of a first pass at this thing called life together, and the beginning of a second wind — looking and moving forward into the unknown. A river of dreams, then. Sometimes full of light, but other times without light — like banks of dark and threatening thunderheads wrapped in chaos. Black dogs, the old name for the darkness that settles over a person and won't lift. The light or the darkness, both reflections in a mirror. One is a point in time — "now," this hour, this minute. The other is sometimes a thousand years prior, like a matrix in concurrent but unequal layers. Since we have only limited travel experience, these nearly two weeks on the Danube with Gate 1 Travel guiding our itinerary were all new. Everything. I think we went through five countries — the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary — ending in Budapest. The boat crew numbered about 30. We passengers were around 125. By the end, we all knew one another, and we made friends we will see again. In each city, our guides lectured as we walked and listened and tried to absorb where we were, how and why. Our guides made the trip. Their knowledge — the canvas for the paint — provided the context, the beating hearts of the humanity we witnessed. It's so different from reading about or studying history and geography, or people, from books or via lectures in a classroom. This, in contrast, was in many ways real time — see it, touch it, feel it, sense it, imagine it. Thousand-year-old churches that changed sides every few centuries or so. Narrow cobblestone streets. Church organs with thousands of pipes. Stainedglass windows of infinite color. Kings and queens, wars and empires. Plagues. All close, all almost within arm's reach. All somehow personal, relevant. Our guides took us to Terezin — known to the Nazis as Theresienstadt — about 40 miles north of Prague, where we passed through iron gates to tiny cells with and without light. We walked the hard stone floors. We saw

Ray and Christina Appen at the Lennon Wall in Prague.

PHOTOS BY: RAY APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

Our travel brought us closer to a reality that was not - and never has been - on our personal radar. It drove home that we — the US — is not the center of the universe. It helped us recognize that we are collectively one village - a village that aspires, lives, and dies the same way.” the photographs: in the ghetto, the condemned Jews awaiting transport; next door in the Small Fortress, the Gestapo's political prisoners, the Czech resistance fighters and the others who fought back or opposed. All of them chattel, crated, boxed, packaged, ready for disposal. Terezin was a "transit" concentration camp through which prisoners passed on the way to the extermination camps, including Auschwitz, Treblinka and Chelmno. It was the camp where 51 prisoners, primarily young resistance fighters in their 20s, were executed May 2, 1945, over a two-hour period — three days before the SS guards abandoned the camp and six days before Soviet troops liberated it. Karl Rahm, the last commandant of the ghetto, was hanged in April 1947. Heinrich Jöckel, who ran the adjoining Small Fortress, was hanged in October 1946. Walking through Terezin was chilling. We saw things made of stone and steel, as well as ideas made from values and faith. And we saw the spoils of those who won and those who lost — the things that obscured, the cataracts of history. We just had no idea. We were blindsided by Hungary, where we spent a

day touring the shelters, the bunkers, the radiation-proof underground escapes that were everywhere in Budapest. Today, we listen to the news about the war in Ukraine daily; we all do, I think. There are the wars in Iran and Gaza, too. But those wars, and that trauma for all the humanity involved, stay remote, out of reach, impersonal — and almost not real. The shelters we experienced in Budapest erased much of that distance for us. Many of the bunkers in Budapest were built during World War II. Some were large enough to hold 20,000 people for weeks, if not months. Many others were built during the Cold War of the 1950s and '60s in anticipation of a nuclear war. There were bunkers for the military and civilian leaders, and they tended to be better equipped. There were bunkers for the general population. Underground hospitals, schools, kitchens, power stations, food storage, living quarters, water storage and systems and dining halls. We spent more than an hour in one of the bunkers, going through it room by room. What made these bunkers so powerful to me was twofold. No. 1: the

Plzen, also known in English and German as Pilsen, is a city in the Czech Republic sheer quantity of the shelters. Our guide told us Budapest alone has an estimated 3,000 shelters today, with the capacity to hold about 490,000 people. No. 2: the bunkers and shelters, especially those built during the Cold War, are only roughly 60 to 70 years old. That is, this "way of life" — this living in the shadow of a probable nuclear war, as evidenced by the bunkers — is, or was, so real and so much a part of life, especially for baby boomers in Budapest and Hungary, today. Our travel brought us closer to a reality that was not - and never has been - on our personal radar. It drove home that we — the US — is not the center of the universe. It helped us recognize that we are collectively one village - a village that aspires, lives, and dies the same way.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE ATLANTA POUR PARTNERS LLC HAS APPLIED FOR A LICENSE TO SELL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR AT THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS WHICH IS LOCATED AT 5325 ROSWELL ROAD, SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30342. THE LICENSEE IS ATLANTA POUR PARTNERS LLC D/B/A ROYAL PACKAGE STORE. THE OWNERS ARE BIRENDRA BIKRAM KC, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7350 VILLAGE CREEK TRACE, SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30328, AND SUDIP NEUPANE, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7795 STRATFORD LANE, SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30350.

6 9 5

28 | September 24, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

1 5 SOLUTIONS Solution 3 4 1 Join today 8 3 for $16/month 9 7 6 PuzzleJunction.com 10/26 Kakuro 5 2 1 DC Aiken Big Sky Franchise Team David & Michelle Bertany 5 4 3 MaryAnne Browne Amour & Duane Carthy Scott Childress 2 4 7Connect-It1 Solution 3 7

C R Y F R O S T S O L V E H I E E A R E D O R I E L I S M B E A R M A R K E T S C H E T R E A T O R B D O E S K I N S L O E B E E A L T L A D B A N D S S L O S H E G O R O I L U S O T U G S U R I T E R R A S E M I S T grid. The rules are easy: A number T E style S I inPa crossword E puzzle, solved A Tnumber Cross Sums, is a challenging S of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum E toNtheOright A Nsquares C white of the T S A sum e in a black square Cis the S can only be used once in any sequence. the sequence below P S1 to 9, TandEa digit S digits U the I may onlyCuse A it.L You PuzzleJunction.com /17/26 Connect-It T U R T L E N E C K S D I S A E R I E A T S E A R A T P L U M E T E E N Y E S S

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Solution

7 D O Y L E G R E T U T U

6 9 5 7 4 1 3 2 8

9 5 4 8 2 6 1 7 3

Kim Truett Roger Wise Jr. Colt Whittall

Ali Mahbod Richard Matherly Evan McElroy Vickie McElroy Anne Peer Helen Perry Mary Phelps

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Rebecca Donlan James Dorsey Tom Driscoll Michael Dudgeon Jeanette Dummer DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Thomas Edmonds William Edmundson Denise Eicher Mim Eisenberg Danny Elkins Su Ellis Grady Evans Leslie Ann Everett Steve Fabian Carol Fain Martha Fasse Nell & Doug Fernandez Renai Fitzpatrick Daniel Fleck Lee Fleck Laura Floyd Andrew Flynn Cathy Flynn Paul Folger Adrienne Fontaine Mary Ford Nanci Foster Amy Frederick Kelly Frommer Carol Fry Tim Fulton

Andrew Garner Tracey Ganesh Steve Garrett Daniel Gay Matthew Geller John Gibbs John Gilberto Leslie Gilliam Bailey & Ryan Gladysz Michelle Glotzbach Harvey Goldberg Christopher Goodrich Jim Gray Ralph Griffin Rihard Griffiths Elaine Gwynn Carolyn Hall Marilee Hamilton Susan Hanna Marion Hannah Chris Harrell Roxanne Hazen Penn Hodge Dianne & Steffan Holmquist Joan Hostetter Julie Hostetter Krista Howland Austin Hughes Jason Hunyar Jacqueline Hursh Barbara Hurt-Simmons Susan Huss

MEMBER

5 O N U S T O K E R I P E 6 A B E D A V I S A B E R

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MEMBER+

I L N E D G Y 1 S T O R M PuzzleJunction.com

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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Wills Park brims with area visitors on Fourth of July By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

A girl waves an American flag as she dances to music by Davis and the Love at Roswell Area Park July 4.

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Kendall, from left, John, Brooks and Reid Hill sit on a picnic blanket at Roswell Area Park to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Roswell crowd celebrates America’s 249th birthday By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Food trucks, live music and fireworks were on the menu for America’s birthday in Roswell. A crowd of over 1,000 piled into Roswell Area Park July 4 to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

Kendall and John Hill travelled from East Cobb to bring their two little ones to the show. “The kids love it,” John Hill said. Baseball fields and multi-use fields were filled with families and friends awaiting the firework show at dusk.

See FOURTH, Page 23

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See FIREWORKS, Page 24

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The heart of the holiday was shining through the music, food and fun of Creek’s Juneteenth celebration. As the sun set on a warm Saturday evening, Midway grandmother Matilda Riles sat in a lawnchair, watching her grandchildren play on the park lawn amid the sound of booming live music and mouthwatering aroma of food trucks. Before the fun started, Riles, who attended with three generations of family, educated the kids about the reason for Juneteenth. “It's a point in time when enslaved people no longer had to be enslaved, and certain places did not relay the message at the time that it should have been relayed,” Riles said. “And, therefore this is a celebration as to when the final group of people were told you no longer had to be enslaved.” Several thousand visitors descended on the city’s annual celebration at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, doubling last year’s attendance. The celebration resembled a giant block party with live music performances, chatting neighbors, plenty of food and rows of arts and craft vendors.

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is working to complete converting an old elementary school into a law enforcement training center. Since October, the training center has hosted a public safety academy as part of a partnership between the sheriff’s office and University of North Georgia. The academy, funded by the

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County restores original funding to cultural arts

Children play in the lawn at Newtown Park during a Juneteenth celebration in Johns Creek June 21. JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Brandy White holds her 1-year-old daughter, Lennon, at the entrance to her Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company on 13th Street just outside Cumming.

sheriff’s office, provides training for law enforcement officers in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions, Capt. Rob Heagerty said. At an April 22 work session, the County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to allocate $47,993 for design services with ar chitectural firm Wiley Wilson to create plans, conduct inspections and

make changes to water heaters. The sheriff’s office wants to install showers and locker rooms at the building at 4805 Atlanta Highway, Heagerty said. The improvements are important because exercise and physical conditioning are essential in maintaining capable deputies, he said. The building already houses classrooms, meeting rooms, a cafeteria,

gym, simulator room and an empty wing where deputies can conduct building-clearing and other training exercises. The work is part of a second phase to transform former Midway Elementary School into a law enforcement training center.

See SHERIFF, Page 12

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ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17. While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay. The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah AbdurRahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.

See JUNETEENTH, Page 10

sions last January and writing false reports about each of the incidents. “The (Justice Department’s) Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law enforcement officers who abuse public trust through excessive force and concealing their misconduct,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We will vigorously safeguard the constitutional

Dunwoody opens doors to refine future land-use By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Front center, Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, holds the ribbon for phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 while City Councilman Tom Lambert, front right, gets ready to cut it. The Perimeter CIDs and Dunwoody split the project’s $1.5 million construction cost.

Commercial partners and city celebrate new path By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See FULTON, Page 20

Fulton jail staff faces civil rights indictments By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat ATLANTA — Fulton County Jail employee has been indicted in federal court for allegedly using excessive force against prisoners. The 47-year-old sergeant is accused of repeatedly using tasers on compliant, nonresisting pre-trial detainees on three occa-

April 10, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

County considers funding for sheriff’s training facility Two-year-old Cameron holds a beach ball at the City of Roswell Fourth of July celebration at Roswell Area Park.

► PAGE 5

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By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The perfect biscuit is like a warm hug, said Brandy White, owner of Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company. “It kind of warms your soul,” White said. “It feels like home to me.” Since 2001, the Sawnee Mountain Biscuit has operated out of a renovated mobile home at 104 13th St., serving perfect pillowy biscuits wrapped around eggs, cheese, bacon and other breakfast staples. With dozens of items on the menu, the restaurant features other tasty offerings from French toast to a house-made pimento cheese. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of Cumming, Sawnee Mountain Biscuit might easily be taken as another house, but locals say the squat, blue-clapboard building is one of the town’s best breakfast spots. Over the decades, the restaurant has earned a cult following in Cumming and the north Atlanta area, serving as many as 400 orders some mornings.

See BISCUIT, Page 6

County delays closing Alpharetta jail site

Pitts: Raising millage rate would be mistake

► PAGE 4

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands filled Wills Park to celebrate July 4 with a bang. Hours before darkness fell, friends and families filled the park’s lawns, Equestrian Center, trails and athletic fields. Everywhere, children played, cartwheeling, running, tossing balls and waving glow sticks. Alpharettan Lindsey Landis, her husband, two children and two dogs were part the crowd, passing the golden hour on a blanket laid out on the grass.

Residents celebrate, remember meaning behind Juneteenth

Greenhouse complex- Across from the Skate Park in Brookrun Park, Dunwoody

rights of all individuals, including those in custody.” “Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted,” added Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Solomon faces up to 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation and 20

years behind bars for each false report. The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

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A look down the completed phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 shows the two-way cycle track parallel to the revamped sidewalk.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody elected officials, city staff and Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Executive Director Ann Hanlon cut the ribbon April 3 on phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path. “We’re super proud to partner with the city of Dunwoody on building this trail project,” Hanlon

said. “And we’ll look forward to many more phases to come.” A little over two years ago, the group gathered at the same spot near the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive for phase one’s groundbreaking. Phase one of the corridor’s path includes a two-way raised cycle track separated from traffic by a wide landscape buffer

See PATH, Page 17

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is streamlining development rules and updating its vision for the city’s future as part of a state-mandated overhaul. City officials and representatives from consulting firm TSW Design, which was tasked with creating a plan, gave a two-hour presentation about the changes April 1 during a special meeting at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Residents received and discussed the creation of a unified development ordinance and changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Dunwoody is updating its comprehensive plan as part of a state mandate that requires an overhaul every five years, said Allison Stewart-Harris, an associate principal and planner at TSW. Stewart-Harris presented the changes to about 30 residents who attended the meeting.

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival. The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Lit is an American rock band from Orange County,

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California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power-pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.” The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m. In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.

See LIT, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Motorists line up at the Boylston Drive signal to turn left onto Hammond Drive Aug. 14. Sandy Springs will begin work in September to realign Boylston to the east and eliminate a nearby traffic light.

Realignment construction begins on Hammond-Boylston intersection

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.

October 23, 2025 | Decaturish.com | Locally Sourced News | An Appen Media Group Publication | Volume 1, No. 13

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs contractors are set to begin work in September on realigning the intersection of Boylston and Hammond drives and removing a redundant traffic light. The city says work will last around 15 months, and the intersection will remain open during construction, but there will be occasional lane closures so crews can get the work done safely. Initially, city officials expected the project

to begin in mid-August. No explanation was given. Currently, there are two separate sets of traffic lights less than 100 feet away from one another, one at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community’s driveway and another at the office building next door. The new configuration will shift Boylston Drive to the east, aligning it with the Hammond Glen driveway and eliminating the traffic light at the driveway to the office building at 325 Hammond Drive.

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About 30 residents fill a dining room at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road April 1 to hear a presentation by TSW Design planner Allison Stewart-Harris, who spoke on the city’s future land-use strategy.

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COINS & GOLD BULLION

Sterling Silver Flatware

By Appointment Only. Please call (770) 282-8156 or visit us at iroff.com to schedule your appointment. 3960 Old Milton Parkway 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005 (770) 282-8156 | iroff.com Sun & Mon: CLOSED | Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm | Sat: 10am-4pm *See store for complete details.

Gold & Silver Jewelry

Diamond Jewelry